Actuator for reciprocating razor



H. A. SWAN Y ACTUATOR FOR RECIPROCATING RAZOR Sept. 22, 1959 Filed Sept.9, 1957 66 as so 3 Vl/lllllll Fig. 3

mmvrm HAROLD SWAN United States Patent ACTUATOR FOR RECIPROCATING RAZORHarold A. Swan, Coronado, Calif.

Application September 9, 1957, Serial No. 682,673

7 Claims. (CI. 30-42) This invention relates generally to razors andmore particularly to an actuator mechanism for causing controlled, slowreciprocation of a razor blade.

Prior art devices for actuation of razor blades have been characterizedby either too rapid movement of the blade or insufiicient control of theblade movement and this invention seeks to correct these deficiencies.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a safety razorconstruction wherein a blade holder is satisfactorily reciprocated inthe direction of the cutting edge of the razor blade so that atransverse or sliding action is achieved to improve the cuttingefiiciency of the blade, but with perfect control such as will avoidinjury to the underlying skin, provided the razor is used in the propermanner. This primary object may also be considered as includingprovision of actuator means having a minimum number of moving parts andwith these parts completely enclosed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an actuator for a razorof this general type wherein force achieved as a result of fingerpressure on the handle or body portion of the razor is transmittedvirtually directly to the blade holder, giving instantaneous movement tothe blade holder in response to and in proportion to such fingerpressure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an actuator which,by reason of its ultimate simplicity, will give durable service withoutvirtually any maintenance or repair, except possibly the replacement ofa pressure capsule after a period of use of several years.

With these objects definitely in view, along with other objects whichwill appear hereinafter as this description proceeds, this inventionconsists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement ofelements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustratedin the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure, and inwhich:

Figure l is an end view of a razor incorporating my invention and theillustrated end of the razor will be considered the top of the razor forpurposes of this disclosure;

Figure 2 is a central, vertical sectional view, except for thoseportions of the mechanism and blade holder plate which are disposedclose to the center line, these portions being shown in elevation; and

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the razor and may be consideredas taken from the right hand side of Figure 2, the portion of the headbeing broken away to show underlying portions in elevation and in crosssection.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the differentviews of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, this invention is comprised offour principal parts which may be considered the handle 10, the head,generally indicated by the numeral 12 and enclosing the principal partsof the H mechanism, the blade holder 14 and the blade 16, the

last element being represented as being of the doubleedged type,although it will be obvious that the invention can be incorporated inrazors employing various types of blades.

The head 12 is somewhat elongated as will be readily evident from acomparison of Figures 2 and 3, with reduced wing portions 20 and athicker central portion 22. The head 12 is provided with a screwed neck24 whereby it is connected to the handle 10. The head also includes aunitary platform portion 26 in encompassing relation, and the platformportion, at the sides of the head, constitutes a support for bladeguards 28 which are of angle-plate character.

A well 30 is provided in one of the reduced wing portions 20 and extendsfrom the top of thehead 12 to a point close to the lower end of thehead. This well 30 houses one leg 31 of a U-shaped strap 33, the bightportion 34 of which bridges'the central portion of the head. The lowerends of the legs 31 and 32 are provided with barrel bearings 36 whichaccept machine screws 38, whereby the bight portion 34 is renderedcapable of parallel motion with reference to a plane through saidmachine screws 38, it being understood that the U-shaped strap 33 issomewhat flexible and resilient. Bosses 40 may be found on opposingsides of the reduced wing portions 20 to provide better support for theends of the machine screws 38. These machine screws 38 function asjournals for the barrel bearings 36.

A cavity 42 is provided in the head 12 and occupies the principalcentral portion thereof. This cavity 42 extends from the wall 43,defining one side of the well 30, to a point close to the upper end ofthe head 12 and the leg 32 of the U-shaped strap 33 occupies thatportion of the cavity 42 remote from the well 30. A capsule 44 is seatedbetween the well 30 and the leg 32 of the U- shaped strap and a neck 46of the capsule extends downwardly into a bushing 48. The bushing 48 hasan outwardly turned flange 50 which is held by the shoulder 52 of thehandle 10, a gasket 54 being inserted between the shoulder and theflange 50.

At the upper end of the head 12, an arched member 56 is secured inabutting relation to the upper edge of the capsule 44. As illustrated,the central portion of the arched member 56 extends downwardly into thecavity 42 and one end 58 of the arched member is retained insubstantially fixed relation to the upper end portion 59 of the wall 43.The other end 60 of the arched member is in continuous engagement withthe U-shaped strap 33 adjacent the junction of the bight portion 34 andthe leg 32. A slot 62 is provided in the under, central surface of theblade holder 14 and the bight portion 34 is fixed in this slot 62. Itwill be obvious from the foregoing that straightening of the etchedmember 56 will cause a movement, as to the right in Figure 2, of thebight portion and the blade holder 14, which moves therewith.

The blade holder consists of a body member 64 of generally rectangularplan form with a large rectangular recess 66 on the underside thereof,defined by depending flange-like portions 67 which encompass the saidopening. On the top of the body member 64, there remote from the pivot72 and this snap clip engages a projection 76 on the adjacent portion ofthe depending flange-like portion 67 to-hold the clamp plate in closedposition, thereby retaining the blade 16 in operative position.

On the top of the head 12 P provide an upstanding wall 77:. extendingabovethe level of the platform: portion 26a distance substantially equalto=the depth of the recess. 66. This wall. 77; along with theplatformportion: 26- and adjacent portions of the blade holder 64'; define achamber encompassing the upper portion of the head 12 andiwithin. theblade holder 64 and this chamber is filled with sponge rubber or thelike which can be considered a; flexible, resilient gasket 78. Thefunction of the gasket 78. istoprevent entry of foreign. materials intothe head. 12,, while permitting a reciprocating movement of the bladeholder relativeto the. head; It will be recalled. that the blade, holderissupported solely by the.bight portion 3,4; of. the. U-shaped strap 33,although the platform. 26 functions as a stop to limit any tilting ofthebladeholder relative; tothe head.

Since the fluid 82,. as. will be explained. more fully immediatelyherebelow,.canl causetdeformation of the arched member 56 in onedirection and the driving of the blade holder in, one direction; only,it is preferred that the U.- shaped strap will be, so formed. as to.assume the position indicated in Figure 1 when. at r st and underno-pressure conditions. This will, assure return of the. u-shaped'strap.- to this position, but further assurance for the. return of theystrap and the. blade holder 14. to the positions shown in Figure 2 isprovided in the, form. ofthe coiled spring 80 compressed between anupper end; portion of one leg; 32 of the U-shaped, strap andthe. upperend. portion. 59 of the wall 43.

The structure of the handle is; simple. The. main portion of the handleis a hollow elongated; cylinder of somewhat flexible and very resilientmaterial, several pl sti ma erials being suitable. and a ferrule 88. isv provided at the upper end of the handle to reinforce the threadedportion thereof engaged with. the neck 24. A gasket 90 is interposedbetween the ferrule 88 and the adjacent portion of the head 12., Anotherferrule. 92. is used to reinforce-the; lower end of the handle1.0,.vvhichv is. closed by an external. and internal threaded end plug.94-. A fill plug 96 is screwed into this; end. plug 94 and. asealinggasket 98 completes'this; assembly The operation of this inventionwillbe clearly evident from a consideration of the foregoingdescription, of the mechanical details thereof. Inrecapitulation,fingerpressure on thehandle, causes a displacement of the fluid. 82 fromthe handle 10,, through the bushing 48;, into the capsule 44. Pressureexerted by the capsule 44 creates. an upwardly directed force againstthe arched member 56, tending to straighten the Same, thereby eifecting.translation of the end 60 of the arched,- membensincev the end '58thereof is. substantially fixed relative to the head 12. In passing, itshould be noted: thatthe end 58 may conveniently be merely inserted in asimple. notch in the upper end wall portion. 59. Movement of the end 60causes a like movement ofthe bight portion 34 and the blade holder withthe blade 16. therein. Upon release of the finger pressure upon; thehandle 10, the; natural resili ency of the U-shaped strap 33 and thecoiled spring;80 assures return of the blade holder and blade to. theoriginal' positions as illustrated in Figure 2-. The, bight portion 34.has a depending stop. portion, 100 formed-therein, said stop portionextending toward the arched member 56. and preventing that member fromsnapping over center when straightened out by the fluid pressure; Itwill be obvious, that reciprocation. of the blade: 16 is. thus accomrplished. at the option. of the user of the razor and at, the exact speedwhich he desires. Thelegs: ofv the U-shapedstrap have very little side.or edge; clearance-in the well. 30, and the cavity 42 and this limits,or prevents. tilting or transverse motionof the blade holder. Itwillf beunderstood that the; legs 31-, and 32; will ordinarily be, oi? the samewidth as the light portion 34', in'the interest of economicalproduction, and transverse width of the well 30 and cavity 42 will beonly slightly greater than the said uniform width of the legs, asindicated in Figure 3. It will, of course, be understood that the userwill probably always find it advantageous to employ different speeds ofreciprocation of the blade while shaving different portions of the face.

Minor variations from, the; form disclosed may be resorted to withoutdeparture from the spirit and scope of this invention and the presentdisclosure is declared as being illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. In a safety razor: a head! havinga blade holder mounted thereon forreciprocation relative thereto; means to reciprocate said blade holdercomprising a resilient, elongated arched member having one end thereofsubstantially fixed against movement in one direction relative to saidblade holder and having the other end thereof operatively engaged withsaid blade holder; and means for periodically straightening said archedmember to move said one end and said blade holder.

2. In asafety razor: a head having a blade holder mounted thereon forreciprocation relative thereto; means to reciprocate said blade holdercomprising aresilient, elongated arched member having one endthereofsubstantially fixed against movement in onedirection relativetosaid bladeholder and having the other end thereof operatively engagedwith said bladeholder; and means for periodically straightening saidarched member tomove said one end and said blade holder; meansengagingsaid blade holder to bias the same toward movement in onedirection, and said one end pushing said blade holder in the oppositedirection when saidmember is straightened.

3. In asafetyrazor: a head having a blade holder mounted thereon forreciprocation relative thereto; means to reciprocate said blade holdercomprising a resilient, elongated arched member having one end thereofsubstantially fixed against movement in one direction relative tosaidblade holder and having the other end thereof operatively engagedwith-said-blade holder; and means for periodically straightening saidarched memberto move said one end and said blade holder; the last men tionedmeans including ahollow element capable of expansion inonedirection, under increased internal pres sure and operatively:mountedinsaid head to press against oneside of said member to effectsaidstraightening; and means for periodically increasing said internalpressure;

4. In a safetyrazor: ahead having a blade holder mounted thereon forreciprocation relative thereto; means to reciprocate said bladeholdercomprising a resilient, elongated arched member having one endthereof substantially fixed against movementin one directionrelati vetosaid bladeholder and having the other endthcreofoperatively engaged withsaid blade holder; and means for periodically straightening said archedmember to movesaid oneend and said blade holder; the last mentionedmeans including ahollow element capable of expansion in one directionunder increased internalpressure and operatively mounted in said head topress against one side of said member to effect said straighteni-ng; andmeans-for periodically increasing said internal pressure; said hollowelement being a flexible, resilient capsule; the last mentioned meansbeing a hollow; flexible and resilient handle communicating withsaidcapsule and constituting therewith a closed, fluid-filled system.

5-. In a safety'razor': a head having ablade holder; a U-shaped straphaving a bight portion and legs terminating in bearing elements wherebythe legs are converted to said' head for rocking movement about axes ina single plane; said blade holder being fixed to the bight portion ofsaid U-shaped strap for parallel reciprocatory .movement of the bladeholder with reference to said plane; a resilient, arched member havingone end thereof substantially fixed against movement in one directionrelative to said blade holder and having the other end thereofoperatively engaged with said blade holder; and means for periodicallystraightening said arched member to move said one end and said bladeholder.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the last mentioned means includesa flexible, resilient capsule operatively mounted in said head to pressagainst said arched member, and a hollow, resilient handle communicatingwith said capsule and constituting therewith a closed, 10

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said U-shaped strap has its bightportion adjacent to said arched member, and said bight portion has aportion projecting toward said arched member and disposed to prevent the5 arched member from over-center movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS862,867 Eggleston Aug. 6, 1907

